History of the Festival & Future Dates

Founded in 1954 to be a dynamic force in developing choral music in Ireland, the Cork International Choral Festival is held annually over the four days preceding the first Monday in May in Cork’s City Hall (capacity 1,000) – one of the most attractive and acoustically superb venues in Ireland. It is one of Europe’s premier international choral festivals and is noted for its high competitive standards, excellent organisation, and the friendliness of its welcome. Each year some of the finest amateur international choirs are selected to compete for the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy. The selected choirs also have an opportunity to perform non-competitively in a range of Festival activities presented over the weekend, including Fringe concerts, church and informal performances. Their presence gives audiences and Irish choirs the unique opportunity of attending a diverse range of concerts and competitive sessions while in Cork. As well as foreign choirs, the Festival annually features up to 100 Adult, Youth and School choirs who participate in National Competitions. Overall the Festival attracts some 5,000 participants. The festival continues to ensure that choral music, representative of many historical and cultural traditions, is brought to the people of Cork and the many visitors who travel to the city for the event.

Future Dates

61st Cork International Choral Festival 201529 April – 03 May 2015

62nd Cork International Choral Festival 201627 April – 01 May 2016

63rd Cork International Choral Festival 201726 April – 30 April 2017

64th Cork International Choral Festival 201802 May – 06 May 2018

65th Cork International Choral Festival 201901 May – 05 May 2019

66th Cork International Choral Festival 202029 April – 03 May 2020

67th Cork International Choral Festival 202128 April – 02 May 2021

Cork International Choral Festival is a member of the following organisations: